Signs You Need to Check for Air Conditioning Unit Replacement

13 Jun 2018

Buying and installing air conditioning units require a lot of money, so you’d expect these units to last for a long time. True, air conditioning units are designed to keep your house cool for a few of years, but like all things, these units also have limited lifespans.

You might see some signs, but you’re not sure if your air conditioning unit is up for replacement, or it just needs repair to get it working again. To help you decide, here are some questions that you need to ask yourself regarding your unit. If your system has most of the telltale signs, it might be time to let go.

How old is it, exactly?

Not everything is old but gold. There are some old things you have to learn to let go, like your air conditioner, perhaps. So how many years should you use your unit for it to qualify for a replacement?

The usual lifespan of an air conditioner unit is usually ten to fifteen years. If your AC is at least ten years old, you might need to let it go mainly if its showing signs of wear and tear.

R22, also known as Freon, is being phased out for environmental protection. Old air conditioning units use R22, but replacing this refrigerant is getting more expensive (ranging from $40 to $175 per pound) because R22 is on its way to discontinuation.

Instead of replacing R22, consider buying and installing a newer model of air conditioning system, because the newer ones have refrigerants which are already made to comply with environmental regulations.

It’s still functional, but is it still energy-efficient?

Most technicians will recommend that you replace your unit if it’s more than fifteen years old. This is because there’s a high chance that the efficiency of your air conditioning unit is declining.

If you observe that your utility bills are consistently climbing in value, even if there are no changes in your usage of the unit, that means that your air conditioning unit isn’t as efficient as it used to be. It’s using up more energy, but the performance remains the same.

Have you counted how many repairs it has gone through?

How many times have you called a technician to repair your AC unit? You might be seeing your technician more regularly than your doctor if your air conditioning unit keeps breaking down. In that case, it might be time to bring in a new AC instead of continually repairing your old unit.

You’ll keep paying the technician again and again, and maybe you haven’t noticed how much you’ve already spent for repairs. You might have spent less if you bought a new and more efficient unit sooner.

Is it still noisy and dirty even after a cleaning process?

If you notice that there’s still a layer of dust every time you clean your house, that might be an indication of ductwork leaks.

Your air conditioning unit might also be giving off excessive noise which is more than the usual that you hear from the AC. It can mean that there’s a problem with your duct system, or it could also be that there’s something wrong with your unit, such as its indoor coil.

Have you noticed inconsistencies lately?

Is your house still hot even if your air conditioning unit is already on its maximum power? Inconsistent humidity and temperature is a sign of possible malfunction of your AC.

You might also have noticed that some rooms don’t have the same temperature as the other rooms even if you have central air conditioning in your house. That’s also a sign that there’s something wrong with your unit, and you need to have it checked as soon as possible.

Takeaway

It’s scary to think of additional costs when you’re considering the replacement of your current air conditioning system. However, there are some signs which determine that it’s necessary to replace, and not repair, your current AC unit.

If your AC unit is relatively old, you have to replace it with a more recent model. Old aircon can bring a lot of problems with it, such as replacing R22 (a refrigerant lined up for phase out due to environmental protection).

Old units also have compromised efficiency, which means that you’ll be paying more in your bills because your AC will consume more energy with no performance improvement. You’ll also have to spend more for repairs and parts replacement.

Malfunctioning parts can lead to abnormal temperatures and humidity in the house. After repair, if your unit still gives off dust and excessive noise, it’s time to replace it.

Ivan Palen

Ivan loves to write and travel to various places in the world. He mainly writes about the places that he has travelled to, and hopes to some day visit the whole world. Ivan loves sharing his experiences with his readers, which is why he is fond of writing about his global adventures.